Atiku Abubakar Demands Accountability from Tinubu on Debt

Atiku Abubakar, the former Vice President of Nigeria, has called on President Bola Tinubu to publicly account for all funds borrowed on behalf of Nigeria prior to the administration's pursuit of a proposed $1.5 billion loan from the World Bank. As of now, Nigeria's public debt stands at ₦166.79 trillion.

Atiku noted that the loan is intended for three facilities focusing on climate resilience, social protection, and early childhood development. He expressed concern over the increasing debt burden, stating that if divided among citizens, each person's share would be ₦716,822, a significant rise from ₦383,442 three years ago.

Atiku challenged Tinubu to clarify why debt continues to escalate despite claims of increased revenue and savings from the removal of the petrol subsidy. He emphasized the need for transparency regarding the specific projects to be funded by the loan, the beneficiaries, and the delivery timetable, warning that the government cannot keep announcing savings and new loans while families struggle.